Results 641-660 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 4: In page 10, line 7, to delete "the" and substitute "a distortion-free".My amendments refer to the price in the "open market". I suppose the background to this one, which is offered in the spirit of suggestion to the Minister if it is of use to him in the finance Bill or elsewhere, and on which I will not seek a vote, is to ask the Minister what is the open market...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his reply and I welcome what he said. If, as happened in the past, a banker were to become deranged and pay a wild price for a house in a neighbourhood located not too far from the Oireachtas, I presume this will not affect the liabilities of everyone else in said neighbourhood. From what the Minister indicated, I understand that the price paid by the banker would...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I will not be pressing amendments Nos. 4 and 6 and thank the Minister for the clarity of his reply. I hope that in time it will allay fears throughout the country. It is a pity the people cannot actually hear what the Minister is saying because he has put many fears at rest.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I accept the Cathaoirleach's ruling on amendment No. 7 but it may be helpful to point out to the Minister that the Cathaoirleach's reason for ruling it out of order was because he feared it would put a charge on the Exchequer. However, the object of the amendment was to provide revenue for the Exchequer on the basis of the difference in valuations between zoned and unzoned land. In...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 8: In page 11, before section 3, but in Part 1, to insert the following new section:?3. - (1) This Act shall not in any way prejudice the integrity of the family home. (2) The ability for the liable person to pay the property tax liability should be taken into account such that the Revenue Commissioners put in place multiple approaches to payment, including deferral...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I accept the Cathaoirleach's ruling on amendment No. 7 but it may be helpful to point out to the Minister that the Cathaoirleach's reason for ruling it out of order was because he feared it would put a charge on the Exchequer. However, the object of the amendment was to provide revenue for the Exchequer on the basis of the difference in valuations between zoned and unzoned land. In...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 8: In page 11, before section 3, but in Part 1, to insert the following new section:?3. - (1) This Act shall not in any way prejudice the integrity of the family home. (2) The ability for the liable person to pay the property tax liability should be taken into account such that the Revenue Commissioners put in place multiple approaches to payment, including deferral...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: No. I warmly welcome the Minister's reassurance regarding the family home.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister. I was pleased to hear him say he intends to change how business is done because that is very necessary. According to the comments that were circulated on behalf of the Minister, "the diplomatic efforts underway in relation to banking debt highlight the need for a careful and delicate balance". Surely banking is one of the areas that should be more exposed, in light...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: When the powers of the Ombudsman were being extended to the Higher Education Authority, we said the first referral would come from Mr. R. Quinn of Sandymount because he could not figure out what the authority was up to either. I think less of that secrecy would be welcome. While I approve of the way the Minister is treating new entrants, I wonder whether there is any basis in law for it....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: The difference relates to the age of the bodies. Some bodies that existed before the enactment of the legislation have this privileged state. The Minister intends to bring that to an end for newcomers. Perhaps all the existing exemptions, other than those mentioned by Deputy Donnelly, should be removed over a period of years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: There should be an onus on them to opt out. If they no longer wish to answer questions from Deputies and Senators, they should have to make that case to the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: Do incumbents get special treatment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: They do not. Is it the case, therefore, that everybody is included?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: Regulatory bodies seem to have acquired a status that allows them to make decisions that cause serious damage to customers. I refer the customers of airports and energy companies, for example. These bodies operate in a secret world. The relevant parent Departments have long since given up trying to control them. I think the OECD referred to this phenomenon as regulatory capture. Can the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: There has to some caution in this regard. The book by Dr. Maurice Manning and Dr. Muiris MacCarthaigh mentioned that an inquiry into railway signalling, the cost of which had increased from €16 million to €64 million, was one of the victims of the Abbeylara judgment. It is now frozen. I appreciate that the Minister has always tried to counteract that judgment. I understand...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Matters Relating to the Economy: Discussion with Governor of Central Bank (16 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome Professor Honohan to the meeting. He stated he is helping to promote a better culture to help consumers have more confidence in financial services. As a member of the committee I must say we do not have much confidence in financial services. It is a landscape of bankrupt banks across the board. Professor Honohan listed the new design features which are being put in place...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Matters Relating to the Economy: Discussion with Governor of Central Bank (16 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: Will the witness speak about the PTSB? Did it seek permission for the action?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I wish to echo the sentiments of Senator Moran with regard to the late Minister of State, Deputy Shane McEntee. His address here on 15 November 2012 was remarkable for the commitment he showed with regard to the attempts to save the country from ash tree disease. Everyone in north Meath on Christmas eve felt the tremendous outpouring of sadness. Our sympathies are with his family, his...